Learn More About Bottom Line

Boston Tutoring Services is introducing a new series of blogposts about local nonprofit organizations. Our goals are to raise awareness about their work and to share how other people can get involved. If you or someone you know is part of, has worked with, or knows about a local nonprofit, please contact us and share your experiences. All submissions are welcome!

In the third part of our nonprofit series, Boston Tutoring Services interviews Elizabeth Hood, College Counselor at Bottom Line. If you want to check out our last interview in the series, you can access it here.

Boston Tutoring Services: Tell me a little about your organization.
Elizabeth Hood: Bottom Line was founded in Boston in 1997 to help disadvantaged students get into college, graduate from college, and go far in life. We achieve this mission by providing one-on-one guidance to low-income and first-generation students from college applications until college graduation. These services have achieved remarkable results: 98% of high school seniors have been accepted to college and 76% of college students have graduated in 6 years or less. Bottom Line works with more than 2,600 high school and college students across Massachusetts and will continue to increase these numbers next year.

BTS: How does the process usually go?
EH: Students begin working with Bottom Line during their junior or senior year of high school. At first meetings, students discuss their interests, aspirations, academic history, and family circumstances with a Bottom Line counselor. Once students commit to our program, counselors help them navigate every step of the college application process. While the specific services Bottom Line provides differ to suit individual needs, our counselors typically help students in five areas: generating a list of colleges suited to students’ academic and financial situations, essays, applications, financial aid, and making a college choice. When college acceptances and financial aid award letters arrive in the spring, Bottom Line helps each student review their options to select a college that best suits their academic, financial, and personal needs.

Once students arrive on campus, Bottom Line becomes a financial aid advocate, academic advisor, career counselor, and mentor. We offer consistent support to students in four areas: Degree, Employability, Aid, and Life (DEAL). Assisting our students in earning a degree means helping them select a suitable major, monitor their academic progress, develop study strategies, and connect with on-campus resources. We assist students in renewing financial aid annually, but also help year-round to resolve problems with tuition bills, determine how to pay balances, and encourage decisions that will allow students to avoid excessive debt. Additionally, Bottom Line helps students secure internships and part-time jobs, create and update their resumes, and build a unique brand that will allow them to leave college ready to thrive in the workforce. Lastly, Bottom Line counselors serve as role models and mentors. The strong relationships counselors maintain with students enable our organization to offer consistent support and help students through unexpected obstacles, such as illness, pregnancy, debt, bereavement, academic probation, or transferring to another college. This comprehensive support is provided for up to six years or until a student graduates.

BTS: Does your organization host or launch any special events throughout the year?
EH: Yes. Our biggest annual event is our “Get In, Graduate and Go Far Dinner” in Boston. This is hosted each year in the spring. Our website provides more details about upcoming events.

BTS: What is the most gratifying aspect of your work?
EH: The impact we are having on the lives of the students we work with. We feature student success stories on our blog.

BTS: How can other people get involved?
EH: We have several opportunities to get involved, from volunteering to giving college students career advice to making a donation. To find out more about how you can get involved, go to http://bottomline.org/get-involved.aspx or contact me at ehood@bottom.org or at 617-524-8833.